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TOO OLD TO DRIVE?
By
Chuck Wells
“My sons and daughters had a
meeting without me and decided that they want me to stop
driving, but they’re making a big deal out of nothing. I’ve
driven longer than they’ve been alive.” This is a quote from
someone diagnosed with dementia.
When to tell someone that they need to stop driving because they
are a danger to themselves and others is a touchy subject and
not easily approached. There are people 90 years old who are
better drivers than an 18 year-old.
What are some warning signs that a person should modify or end
their driving? Here is a list I found put out by Hartford Ins.
Co. (the car ins. company from AARP):
- Incorrect signaling
- Trouble navigating turns
- Moving into a wrong lane
- Confusion at exits
- Parking inappropriately
- Hitting curbs
- Failing to notice traffic
signs
- Driving at inappropriate
speeds (too slow or too fast)
- Delayed responses to
unexpected situations
- Not anticipating potential
dangerous situations
- Increased agitation or
irritation when driving
- Scrapes or dents on the car,
garage, or mailbox
- Getting lost in familiar
places
- Near misses
- Ticketed moving violations
or warnings
- Car accident
- Confusing brake and gas
pedals
- Stopping in traffic for no
apparent reason
Now, we have all done some of
the things above but if you are doing a lot of these things
repeatedly or dangerously (or notice someone in your family
doing them), it might be time to adjust your driving. Don’t
drive at night, long distances, in heavy traffic, or places not
familiar to you.
Caregivers and family of elderly drivers can also start a
discussion with a form called “Agreement with My Family about
Driving” that is similar to a health care proxy that instructs
them who should make the decisions about driving should the
person become unsafe. Check with me if you would like a copy.
There are no easy answers but the bottom line is: how would you
feel if some young family was killed in a car accident because
you or your relative was driving and you knew they should not?
NEW COLLEGE COURSES
A college in Hawaii (who cares about the courses if it is in
Hawaii?) is offering some new courses:
- Creative Embalming
- Income Tax Evasion for the
Non-Major Life After Death
(one field trip required)
- Advanced Trigonometry and
its Application to Particle Physics and
Parking-Space
- Procurement at Wal-Mart
- The Psychology of Sexual
Addiction (textbook: “It Takes a Village”)
Send Chuck
your feedback on this Article
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